Process and apparatus for producing chemical reactions.



J. I. R. HAYDEN.

PBOGESS AND APPARATUS POR PRODUCING CHEMICAL REACTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJS, 1909.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

Inventor: Joseph LRHagden nr arrears orrori.

JOSEPH L. R. HAYDEE', 0F SCHENECTADY, LNEVI! YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL Y ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CHEMICAL REACTIONS. l

ibaeaai.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3., i912.

Applicatioh filed February 13, 1909. Serial No. 477,768.

to one another under ordinary.1 conditions can be vmade to interactivith a formation of new compounds when subjectedfto thev inuence of an'electric arc. For example, the gases oxygen and nitrogen, which appear as a mixture in atmospheric air, combine when passed through an electric arc to form nitric oxid. Thev reaction, however, is a reversible' one, and unless the nitricoxid is cooled very rapidly to a temperature below a certain dissociating temperature, the reverse reaction takes place and nitric oxid is again decomposed into its elements nitrogen and oxygen. If reactions of the nature above indicated are, therefore, to be carried out etliciently, means must be provided to cool the reaction mixtureto a temperature below u the dissociating temperature of the product immediately after'having passed through the influence of the arc.

My invention relates more specifically to the method of cooling the gases after having been acted upon by the arc, and the appavratus for accomplishing this cooling most eiiiciently. For this purpose the gasesare passed rapidly into a liquid having a high thermal capacity, such as water. A receptacleV containing the liquid through which the gases are passing is preferably provided with a condenser, so 'as to condense'the vapors from the liquid which may be brought to a boiling temperature by the heated gases from the arc. Y

The accompanying drawings show somewhat diagrammatically an embodiment' of my invention, in which the reaction mixture is blown into a body of water through a perforation in one of the arcing electrodes.

Figure l shows the apparatus for carrying out the reaction, together with the accessory apparatus for completing the reac- V-oxids of nitrogen.

tions and absorbing the products; Fig. 2 is afragmentary View, showing a slightly modified form of perforated electrode, which projects a short'wayinto the cooling liquid.

Referring to Fig. l, the arc is formed between the perforatedyelectrode 1 and the electrode 2, which is adjustable. The arc is surrounded by a pressure chamber 3, which communicates with a blower 4. The electrode 2 is insulated from the pressure chamber by means of a suitable bushing 5. The perforated electrode communicates with a container 6, containing a cooling liquid, as water. The bottom 7 of the container is preferably made of metal, which may be similar to the metal composing the perforated electrode.' Copper is well suited for this purpose, as it` has good heat conductivity, and the electrode which is made the anode is not consumed to any great extent bythe arc. The upper vertical-portion of eoA the container may be preferably4 made ofglass. The 'joint between the lower base portion and the upper portion is packed watertight, as indicated in the drawing. Thefcontainer 6 is provided with a rentrant portion 7 forming a condenser through which a iow of cooling liquid is maintained,

supplied by inlet pipe 8 and carried away by outlet pipe 9. The lower electrode 2, which is preferably madel the cathode of the arc, -may be made of iron, or some metal readily supplying vapors to maintain the arc. The container 6 is provided with an outlet pipe' 10 for the introduction and removal of the cooling liquid. The chamber 6 communicates by means of the pipe l1'.

with a chamber 12, known as the reaction chamber, in which the reaction is allowed to proceed, the nitric oxid combining with the free oxygen present to form the higher This reaction chamber is likewise provided with an outlet pipeA 13, for the removal of any liquids which may be condensed in the chamber. It communicates by means of pipe 14 with absorbing tanks 15 and 16. Only two absorbing towers have been shown for illustration, but a larger number can be used to advantage. The reaction chamber and the absorbing tanks are made of some suitable material, such as stoneware, which is not attacked by the acid formed therein. The tanks 15 and 16 are filled with some vitreous material not attacked byV acids, upon which a lm of moisture is maintained by Water percolating over the material. The water is supplied by pipes 17 and 18, respectively. The acid formed in these chambers by the solution of the gases is tapped oit through the pipes 19, 20; the uncombined excess gases escaping to the atmosphere through pipe 2l. The electrodes l and 2 are 4'connected'to some suitable source of current, such as a generator 22. A

According to the modification illustrated in F ig. 2, electrode l has an elongated portion projecting into the cooling liquid; but in other respects the various parts are identical with that already described in connection with Fig. l.

The method ot operation is as Jfollows: The cooling chamber 5 being iilled with water, and air under pressure being supplied by blower i to the pressure chamber 3, so as to prevent the water from flowing down from the perforated electrode l, an arc is drawn between the electrodes l and 2 by bringing them in contact and separating the1n.` rthe arc should be made as short as is possible with its steady maintenance. rl`he mixture, atter passing through the arc, bubbles up through the Water and is cooled thereby. The gases then pass on to the reaction chamber, where the reaction is completed, as already explained. The gases are carried on into the absorption chamber, where they come in contact with Water and form nitrous and nitric acid. Verylittle absorptiony of the gases by the Water with the formation of acid occurs in the chamber 6. The nitric oxid, apparently, requires an appreciable time to combine with the surplus oxygen so as to term the higher oxids, which alone can interact with water to form acid. The use of metal for the base and the perforated electrode, therefore, is not objectionable.

By the above method of cooling the reaction mixture after passing through the arc, a greater yield is Obtained than by any of the methods now in use.

Other means for forcing the reaction mixture through the arc and the cooling liquid, can be used. The gases can be carried through by applying suction at the pipe 2l, or, in general, at'the end O the condensing apparatus.

What I claim as new7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,--

l. The process which consists in passing a gaseous reaction mixture into an arc and withdrawing the reaction mixture in the direction of the arc stream into immediate contact with a body of liquid, thereby raplg.' idly cooling said mixture in a greatly sub-- divided state bycontact with said liquid.

2. The combination of a receptacle conf taining liquid, arcing electrodes, one of which contains a perforation opening into said container, and means for passing a reaction mixture through the arc formed between said electrodesand bringing it at once in Contact with a liquid in said receptacle.

3. The combination of arcing electrodes,

one of which is perforated, a liquid-con taining Vessel communicating with, said perforated electrode, and means for passing a gaseous mixture through an arc between said electrodes and through a liquidin said Vessel. 4. The combination of cooperating elecf trodes, an inclosed vessel containing a liquid, means for urging a gaseous mixture through an arc :tormed'between said electrodes and into the`body of liquid.,

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day. of February, 1909.

JOSEPH L. It. HYDEN.l

Witnesses BnNJaMiN B. HULL, HELEN ORFonn. 

